Evergreen signs on for 7 more 14,000-teu mega containerships

The ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2016 and 2017 and are expected to upgrade Evergreen's fleet offering lower unit costs local news reports said.

However, this may end up having a neutral impact on capacity, as Evergreen expects to gradually retire some of its older and smaller owned vessels and not extending leases on others with lower operating efficiency. “The decision fits into the company’s fleet replacement plan,” the company said in a stock market announcement.

The company said last year it will charter 10 units of 13,800-teu Hyundai Heavy Industries-built vessels from Greek shipowner Enesel SA and has taken delivery of two of the 10 vessels since September last year, with the remaining eight to be delivered in the second half of this year.